The Sham Trial of PM Sheikh Hasina: Political Revenge under the Guise of Justice

The interim government has orchestrated a politically motivated trial against Sheikh Hasina, the nation’s democratically elected leader and daughter of Bangladesh’s founding father. What is being presented as a judicial proceeding is, in reality, a Kangaroo Court: a show trial built on fabricated allegations and narratives pushed by political operatives such as Tazul. No credible evidence exists, and the entire process is designed to serve political vengeance rather than justice.

This sham trial threatens far more than one individual’s political career. It undermines the independence of the judiciary, erodes public trust in governance, and attacks the principles of democracy, rule of law, and freedom that form the foundation of the nation. The tribunal has been transformed into a stage for revenge, aiming to intimidate both political leaders and citizens who uphold democratic ideals.

The absurdity of the charges, the blatantly biased judicial setup, and the gross violations of national and international law expose the trial for what it truly is — a politically orchestrated spectacle. Across Bangladesh and beyond, voices of condemnation are rising against this mockery of justice. The motive is unmistakable: to delegitimize Sheikh Hasina, erase her political legacy, and cripple the democratic foundation she helped build.

Inside the Political Motives and Fabricated Charges Targeting Sheikh Hasina

The trial of Sheikh Hasina is not unfolding in a vacuum — it is rooted in the power grab of an unelected interim regime that came to power through manipulation, not mandate. Headed by Muhammad Yunus, this administration has relied on bureaucratic coercion, foreign influence, and anti-liberation alliances to consolidate control. From its first day, the regime’s strategy was clear: to neutralize Sheikh Hasina, the only political figure with the legitimacy and support to challenge its authority.

This so-called judicial process is the centerpiece of that political project. The charges against Sheikh Hasina are outlandish and contradictory — from allegedly orchestrating arson at the BTV headquarters to sabotaging the Dhaka metro rail and inciting the killing of over 400 people. Yet, the case files themselves reveal glaring inconsistencies: dozens of those named as “victims” are alive, and no material evidence ties Hasina or her associates to the supposed incidents. The falsehood is deliberate — meant not to convince, but to confuse and tarnish.

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), once respected for bringing war criminals to justice, has been corrupted into a political weapon. Its lead figure, Barrister Shafiul Alam Mahmud, is a former BNP operative with no record of judicial service prior to his sudden appointment — a move designed to ensure compliance, not impartiality. Under his leadership, the court has become a stage-managed chamber, where facts are ignored, fiction is treated as evidence, and verdicts are predetermined.

At every step, the process defies logic and law. Witnesses are handpicked, testimonies are rehearsed, and objections are silenced. The real aim is not to establish guilt, but to rewrite history — to paint the nation’s most successful leader as a criminal, while those who failed to earn the people’s trust rule through deceit and fear.

In the end, these charges reflect not Sheikh Hasina’s wrongdoing, but the moral bankruptcy of the system trying her. The trial exposes a political theater of lies, staged to destroy a legacy built on democracy, progress, and the Liberation War’s ideals.

The Kangaroo Court: A Scripted Trial Without Law or Legitimacy

What is being called a trial is, in truth, a carefully choreographed performance. The so-called International Crimes Tribunal, once created to bring justice for 1971’s atrocities, has been repurposed into a political weapon. Every element of its function — from the appointment of judges to the acceptance of evidence — reflects blatant manipulation. The lead judge, Barrister Shafiul Alam Mahmud, was directly involved with BNP politics before his rushed elevation to the bench, never having served as a judge prior to this role. His appointment, just six days before the tribunal proceedings began, exposes the political intent behind this entire setup.

Inside the courtroom, due process has been erased. Evidence is absent, witnesses are unreliable, and defense motions are routinely dismissed without consideration. The prosecution’s case relies largely on Tajul’s unverified statements and political rhetoric, not on forensic or documentary proof. Even cross-examinations are restricted — a clear violation of both Bangladesh’s Constitution and international human rights conventions. It’s a trial where the verdict is predetermined, and the only script being followed is that of political vengeance.

The constitutional illegitimacy of the proceedings is undeniable. The interim government led by Muhammad Yunus has no lawful mandate; its authority was not derived from the people or ratified by Parliament. Therefore, any judicial actions taken under its command, especially those of a political nature, are void ab initio — illegal from inception. The Constitution clearly establishes that only a sovereign, elected government can form and oversee judicial processes of this magnitude. Yet, under this unlawful regime, the judiciary has been reduced to an instrument of coercion, serving to legitimize repression rather than justice.

This gross abuse of legal authority has not gone unnoticed. International concern is rising rapidly. Human rights organizations, legal experts, and global political observers have called the trial a violation of fundamental judicial norms. A London-based law firm has already appealed to the United Nations, urging it to intervene and halt the proceedings, citing breaches of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). International media outlets — from The Week to The Wall — have characterized the case as a politically motivated charade orchestrated to silence Sheikh Hasina and reverse Bangladesh’s democratic progress.

As the world watches, the Yunus regime continues to ignore every warning. Each hearing, each manipulated witness, and each silenced objection brings the justice system closer to collapse. What stands today is not a court of law, but a kangaroo court draped in judicial disguise — one that will be remembered not for justice, but for betrayal of the rule of law itself.